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Three Secrets to Improving Your Willpower

Did you know that the people who believe that they have the most willpower end up being the ones that usually cave when tempted? It has been proven time and again in multiple studies. The ones that are the most optimistic in the beginning are the ones that seem to fail. You may think that you can just put down those cigarettes and walk away; however, you may find yourself picking them back up a few months later. Maybe you think you can stick to a strict diet without ever cheating, but in the end you overindulge and actually gain weight instead of losing it. Well, you may be asking yourself, how can I fix this? You should take a look at these willpower building tips we have gathered for you.

Form better habits

Did you know that we are given a certain amount of willpower? This is why we must use it sparingly. If we have to keep telling ourselves no or holding out on something, we may be setting ourselves up for failure. We can run down all of our energy until there is nothing left to help us say no to whatever is tempting us. However, if you form a habit of doing something, you may notice that it does not take as much energy to repel you from your temptations. Our reactions will be on automatic pilot causing us to be able to save up our willpower until it is truly needed. The less we have to rely on our willpower, the better our chances of succeeding and achieving our goals will be.

Time can be a deciding factor

Since our willpower is limited, it makes sense that it is stronger in the morning and kind of putters out throughout the day. Therefore, you need to make sure you get the most out of your willpower by avoiding things that tempt you as your day progresses. It’s important to start our day with some solid nutrition, as this helps decrease our cravings later in the day, when our willpower often gives out. Also, try to plan your meals ahead of time and avoid the junk food aisles at the grocery store. This way we will not have anything available to tempt us.

Do not judge yourself too harshly

There will be some good and bad days. You just have to go with it. We are going to give in to our temptations every now and then. It is inevitable, so do not be too hard on yourself. It has been proven through many scientific studies that if you excessively criticize yourself you will be less motivated to achieve your goals and end up taking a blow to your already dwindling willpower. So, remember to keep your head up and keep pushing forward. People that are able to dust themselves off and get back on track after a setback are the ones that usually succeed in the end. So, it does not matter that you gave in to your temptation once, what matters most is that you were able to overcome it and keep going. Don’t let one slip up lead to another, and you will be golden!

Willpower can seem like a lot of hard work; however, just like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it will get. In order to improve any area of your life, willpower is a necessity. So, take a deep breath and use a few of the secrets listed above to see how much you can achieve.